Reversible plow

ABSTRACT

A reversible plow comprising a three point hitch, a pivotally mounted tool bar provided with a plurality of adjustable plow gangs, and gauge wheels wherein said tool bar can be shifted from left of center to right of center, and back, by a hydraulic piston such that the plowed ground can be directed in a desired direction.

This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/470,062filed on Jan. 25, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,603.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to plows and is more particularly concerned witha reversible plow which will selectively throw the dirt from a furrow,in one direction or the other, as desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past, reversible plows have been developed which will selectivelydirect the plowed ground in one direction or the other. TheBIDIRECTIONAL MOLDBOARD PLOW WITH MOLDBOARD FRAME INCLUDING GUIDE MEMBERdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,963 issued Jan. 31, 1989 to Pompeys B.Gomez discloses a reversible plow. In the structure of the patent, atool bar carries a plurality of moldboards which are mounted inalignment at spaced locations along the length of the tool bar, twomoldboards being forward of a central pivot pin and two moldboards beingrearwardly of the central pivot pin. A main frame carries the moldboardframe while a reversing arm, which cooperates with the moldboard frameand is operated hydraulically, pivots the moldboard frame from oneangular position to the other with respect to the frame.

In the Gomez device, each moldboard is carried in a fixed location by atool bar and each moldboard has removable wear parts, thereon. The framehas a three point hitch and a tilting mechanism by which one side of thehitching frame can be lifted or lowered with respect to the tractor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, the present invention includes a main frame having athree point hitch for a tractor by which the frame may be towed orlifted, as desired. In the main frame carries a tool bar which ispivotally mounted at the rear central portion of the main frame, thetool bar being provided with a plurality of plow gangs which are clampedon to the tool bar, the plow gangs being adjustable along the length ofthe tool bar. This main frame also includes a pair of gauge wheels atits front portion while the plow gang has a rear gauge wheel at its rearmost portion, this rear gauge wheel being capable of tracking the pathof movement of the tractor.

The tool bar of the present invention can be shifted from left of centerto right of center by a hydraulic piston and cylinder, the plow gangsbeing so arranged on the tool bar that when shifted, the pressure on themoldboards will tend to hold the tool bar in its pivoted position. Eachplow gang has a shank which is removably clamped to the tool bar andcarries a pivotally adjustable moldboard, having two points and an arcsurface. The brackets which carry the moldboard and connect themoldboard to shank is pivotal about a horizontal axis so as to adjustthe tilt of the moldboard.

Connected to the rear wheel assembly is a row marker which is tiltableby a hydraulic cylinder, the function of which is synchronized with thehydraulic cylinder operating the tool bar so as to always arrange oneend of the row marker assembly up and the other end down or vice-versaso that the lower end produces a line along the ground to mark the pathof travel along which the next subsequent row will be plowed.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the frame of the plowis carried by a centrally located longitudinal extending pivot pin sothat it is rotated by a hydraulic cylinder about the center line of thetractor. By such an arrangement, a tractor can, have one wheel in thefurrow as the frame of the plow is tilted about a central longitudinalaxis to remain horizontal for uniform plowing action.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide areversible plow which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable instructure and efficient in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowin which the various parts may be readily and easily replaced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a moldboardassembly wherein the moldboard, when engaging a large rock or otherobstacle, shears a pin and tilts rearwardly, so as to reduce oreliminate damage to the moldboard.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowwhich is capable of efficient use in varying types of land and which canbe adjusted to optimum operating condition for that particular land.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowwhich can provide maximum covering of the trash and litter which is onthe ground being plowed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowin which the moldboards of the plow can be readily and easily adjustedalong with length of the tool bar.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowin which the moldboards carried by the plow will essentially equallypenetrate to a prescribed depth in the ground.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowin which the frame of the plow can be tilted about a central axis sq asto maintain the plow level as the tractor plows in the furrow.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowwhich will automatically mark a path for a subsequent row to be plowed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowin which additional moldboards may be readily and easily installed onthe plow.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowin which the tool bar is pivotal from one annular position to the otherwith respect to the path of travel of the plow and wherein themoldboards carried by the plow tend to maintain the tool bar in itspivoted position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowin which the effective width of the plow can be varied.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowin which the moldboards will impart a more rolling effect to thedisplaced ground as the furrows are being plowed by the moldboard.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowin which the moldboards will produce a plowed ground having fewer clogsand smaller clogs after such plowing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reversible plowin which the depth of plowing is maintained substantially constantduring the plowing operation.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 1a are perspective views of an in-the-furrow reversible plowconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame assembly and tow bar of anon-land reversible plow constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of the frame and tow bar of theplow depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a detail showing the frontshank or mounting bracket for the moldboard of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the moldboard assembly of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the intermediate shank forsupporting an intermediate moldboard in the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the rear shank and gang wheelmount for supporting the moldboard and also the gauge wheel assembly ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the depth mount for the rearwheel assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the rear wheel assembly of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the rear marker assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of side wheel bracket and side wheel ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a tool bar extension with themoldboards and mounting assemblies secured thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now in detail to the embodiments chosen for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention, numeral 10 in FIG. 2 denotesgenerally a horizontal, trapezoidal main frame of an on-the-landreversible plow of the present invention. Numeral 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2adenotes generally the in-the-furrow reversible plow of the presentinvention, which will be explained, later.

The front tow bar or cross bar 11 of frame 10 of the on-the-land plow ofFIG. 2 extends transversely with respect to the path of travel of theplow. In the central portion of the crossbar 11 are a pair of opposedupwardly and forwardly extending central hitch plates 12, each of whichis provided with a pair of vertically spaced holes 12a and 12b. Theholes 12a are transversely aligned with each other and the holes 12b aretransversely aligned with each other so that a pin (not shown) can passthrough either the holes 12a or the holes 12b to connect the plow to thecentral hitch of a tractor (not shown).

Outwardly of the central hitch plates 12 on crossbar 11 are opposedpairs of lower hitch plates 15 and 16. Each hitch plate 15 is providedwith a hole 15a and each hitch plate 16 is provided with a hole 16a, theholes 15a and 16a being transversely aligned with each other to receivepins (not shown) which secure the hitch plates 15 and 16 to the lowerhitches of a tractor (not shown) so that the action of the three pointhitch can raise and lower the plow, as desired.

In more detail, the frame 10 in FIG. 2 includes a pair of transverselyspaced, opposed, longitudinally extending, parallel, side bars 17 whichextend rearwardly from the end portions of the crossbar 11. Connected tothe rear ends of these side bars 17 are a pair of rearwardly convergingbars 18, the rearmost ends of which are joined by upper and lowertransverse plates 19 and 20 these plates 19 and 20 being in verticallyspaced, opposed relationship, parallel to each other. In the centralportion of the plates 19 and 20, are vertically aligned holes, such ashole 21, which receive therethrough a pivot pin 22. The holes 21 arealigned longitudinally with the longitudinal axis of the plow and,therefore, are aligned with the space between the central hitch plates12.

The upper portion of the pivot pin 22 is provided with a mounting plate23 which bolts to plate 19 to hold pin 22 in place. Plate 23 carries anupstanding, conduit supporting standard 24, the upper end portion ofwhich is provided with conduit guides 25 and 26. Also, a side conduitguide 27 is provided on one of the plates 12. These conduit guides 25,26, and 27 receive and support increments of the hydraulic hoses, suchas hose 129 of FIG. 1, by which the hydraulic cylinders, to behereinafter described, are controlled from the tractor. Additionalconduit guides 28 and 29 are provided on the front side of the cross bar11.

A guide bar 121a which is concaved rearwardly, being concentric aboutthe axis of pin 22, has its ends secured to the side bars 17,respectively. A plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinallyextending, ribs 21b extend between the front bar 11 and the convexedside of guide bar 21a so as to fix the position of guide bar 21a withinand in the plane of the forward portion of frame 10.

An alternate form of main frame 100 which can be substituted for frame10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2a. This alternate frame 100 isused for an in-the-furrow reversible plow. In more detail, frame 100includes a pair of parallel, longitudinally spaced, transverselyextending, cross-bars 111 and 111a. Opposed parallel, longitudinallyextending, side bars 117 extend rearwardly from the ends of front crossbar 111, being secured to the ends of rear bar 111a. These side bars 117extend rearwardly of cross bar 111a and connect by their rear endportions to a pair of rearwardly and inwardly converging bars 118, therearmost ends of which are joined by upper and lower vertically spaced,transversely extending, plates 119 and 120.

Like the preceding embodiment, the-plates 119 and 120 are provided withholes, such as hole 121, through which protrudes a pivot pin 122 whichcarries a swingable tool bar 30 to be described, hereinafter. The upperportion of pivot pin 22 is provided with a mounting plate 123. Anupstanding bolt 123a on plate 119 is provided with a spacer sleeve 123bwhich is shorter than the bolt 123a so that when the pivot pin 122 isappropriately in place, bolt 123b protrudes through plate 123 andreceives the washer 123c and nut 123d for locking the pin 122 in place.

An upstanding standard 124 is mounted on the plate 124 and carriesconduit guides 125 and 126. Other conduit guides 128 and 129 are on thefront of bar 111.

Rearwardly of the rear crossbar 111a is a concaved guide bar 121a whichis secured with the frame 100 by transversely spaced ribs 121b.

Between the parallel crossbars 111 and 111a is a tow bar 111c, providedwith a central longitudinal hole 101 which, when aligned with alignedholes 102 and 102a in the central portions of crossbars 111 and 111a,will receive a longitudinally extending pivot pin 103 which extendsalong the longitudinal axis of frame 100. The pivot pin 103 has a plate104 on its end which plate is removably bolted to bar 111. Thus, theframe 100 will pivot about the longitudinal central axis of pivot pin103.

The central portion of tow bar 111c, above hole 101, carries a centralhitch 112, consisting of an upstanding and forwardly extending channelmember having spaced plates, pivotally connects to the tractor (notshown), by means of a removable pin 113 which selectively protrudesthrough aligned holes 112a or 112b in plates of the hitch 112. A keeper114 is provided on pin 113.

Outwardly of the central hitch 112 and protruding downwardly from bothend portions of bar 111c are opposed pairs of hitch plates 115 and 116.Each pair of hitch plates 115 are provided with transversely alignedholes 115a and each pair of hitch plates 116 are provided with alignedholes 116a. Pins, similar to pin 113 respectively pass through holes 115and 116 for removably securing the side hitches of the tractor to thehitch plates 115 and 116.

An upstanding piston support 105 supports the upper end of a doublehydraulic piston 106, the piston rod 106a of which pivotally connects toa tilt plate 107 which plate protrudes laterally outwardly from hitch115 and an end brace 108 on the end of bar 111c. The pivotal mounting ofrod 106a to plate 107 is achieved by the rod 106a passing through anoversized hole in plate 107 and have nuts (not shown) on the threadedend of rod 106a, the nuts forming stops for both surfaces of plate 107.

The passing of hydraulic fluid from the tractor to one side or the otherof piston 106 will cause the incremental tilting of the frame 100 aboutthe generally horizontal axis of pivot pins 103 as the tow bar 111cremains in its same prescribed position with respect to the tractor.

Thus, the frame 100 can be positioned in a horizontal position eventhough one rear wheel of the tractor is in the furrow, therebypositioning the tractor at an angle with respect to the plane of theground.

The remaining portion of this description has applicability to bothtypes of frames 10 and 100 as will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

The pivot pin 22 protrudes through an appropriate hole (not shown) in astraight, swingable, tool bar 30 which is rectangular in cross section,the tool bar 30 being sufficiently narrow that it passes between theopposed plates 19 and 20 or 119 and 120. A major portion 30a of the toolbar 30 protrudes forwardly within the frame 10 or 100 and terminateswith its forward end adjacent to the curved or arcuate guide bar 21a or121a. The tool bar 30 is thus free to pivot about the vertical axis ofthe pivot pin 22 or 122 so that the forward end of tool bar 30a willswing from one end portion of the guide bar 21 or 121 to the other endportion of the guide bar 21 or 121. The swing to the left from thelongitudinal axis of the plow is between about 38° and about 40° and theswing to the right from the longitudinal axis of the plow is also about38° to about 40°. The major portion 30a of the length of the tool bar 30of the on land plow is between the pivot pin 22 and the guide bar 21,and a minor portion 30b is rearwardly of pin 22.

The rear portion 30b of the tool bar 30 protrudes rearwardly from theframe 10 or 100 and is provided at its rear end with an upstanding buttplate 31 which is perpendicular to the axis of bar 30 and against whichthe extension of FIG. 11 can be removably affixed.

For hydraulically shifting the tool bar 30 from its extreme leftposition to its extreme right position and vice versa, a double actinghydraulic cylinder 32 is pivotally connected by its rear end portion tothe rearmost inner surface of one of the converging bars 18 or 118. Thepiston rod 33 of this double acting cylinder 32 is pivotally connectedby its forward end portion to a sidewise extending bracket 34 on theside of the forward portion 30a of the tool bar 30. The arrangement ofthe cylinder 32 is such that, when the piston 33 is retracted, theforward portion 30a of the tool bar 30 will be swung to its rightposition in FIG. 2 or FIG. 2a and when the piston rod 33 is extended,the forward portion 30a of the tool bar 30 will be swung to its leftmostposition.

At the forward end portion of the tool bar 30 is a front plow ganghaving a front shank assembly 34, shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. This frontshank assembly 34 serves a double function of forming a guide for thefront end of the tool bar 30 and as a moldboard support for thefrontmost moldboard assembly seen in FIG. 4. In more detail, the frontgang includes the front shank assembly 34 which has forwardly protrudinglower square or rectangular plate 35 and an upper plate 36 respectivelyadapted to be received adjacent the bottom surface and top surface ofthe front end portion 30a of the tool bar 30. The plates 35 and 36,along their front and rear edge portions receive C-shaped, opposed,inwardly facing, flat cradles 35a and 36a which when the plates 35 and36 are clamped together limit both longitudinal and lateral movement ofthe plates 35 and 36 on the tool bar 30.

Protruding forwardly from the forward plates 35a and 36a, respectively,are a pair of vertically spaced, rectangular wear plate retainingmembers 35b and 36b. Removable plastic wear plates 35c and 36c arebolted, respectively, to the opposed surfaces of these members 35b and36b by bolts 38. The plates 35 and 36 are removably secured to eachother by bolts, such as bolt 39, through corner portions of plates 35and 36 passing outwardly adjacent to the sides of the tool bar 30. Thus,when a nut, such as nut 39a with its lock washer 39b are tightened onthe bolts, such as bolt 39, the opposed Plates 35 and 36 are urgedtogether so as to clamp an increment of the tool bar 30, therebetween.

When the plates 35 and 36 are appropriately installed, respectivelyadjacent to the top and bottom of the end portion of bar 30, the plasticwear plates 35c and 36c which protrude forwardly of bar 30, straddle andbear against the lower and upper edges of the guide bar 21 so as toslide therealong as the tool bar 30 is shifted from one position to theother. These wear plates 35c and 36c can be readily replaced when theyhave become worn by removing the bolts 38. The plates 35c and 36cfunction to stabilize the vertical position of the front end portion ofthe tool bar 30.

Protruding downwardly, in generally a vertical direction, from thebottom plate 35 is a moldboard assembly mounting shank 40. This mountingshank 40 is a channel member which is welded by its upper end to thelower portion of lower plate 35 and is provided with a reinforcing strut41 which is welded to the central portion of the plate 35 and thecentral portion of the shank 40. The central portion of the shank 40 isprovided with a pair of transversely aligned shear pin holes 42 and thelower end portion of the shank 40 is provided with a pair oftransversely aligned pivot pin holes 43. The function of the shank 40 isto receive and support the frontmost moldboard assembly, denotedgenerally by the numeral 45.

As shown in FIG. 4, each moldboard assembly 45 is a bidirectionalmoldboard has a curved moldboard mounting plate, denoted by the numeral46. This mounting plate 46 is generally rectangular and is evenly curvedabout a horizontal radius so as to present a concaved front surface anda convexed rear surface. Welded to the central portion of the concavedrear surface of the mounting plate 46 are a pair of opposed upstandingbrackets 47 which are provided at their lower ends with transverselyaligned pivot pin holes 48 which, when aligned with the holes 43 of ashank 40, receive the pivot pin 49.

Above the holes 48, the brackets 47 are provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced shear pin holes 50, pairs of which aretransversely aligned with each other. Holes 50 are arranged in an arcand pairs of holes 50 are selectively alignable with holes 42 of shank40. Thus, when the pivot pin 49 is received through the holes 48 and 43,these shear pin holes 50 can be selectively aligned with the shear pinhole 42 of the shank 40. A shear pin in the form of a bolt 51 can passthrough the aligned pair of holes 50 and 42 for mounting the plate 45 ina plurality (3) different angular positions. In one position themounting plate 46 is in an upwardly tilted position or in a normalposition, or in a downwardly tilted position, depending upon thealignment of the holes 50 with the holes 42.

Mounted on the front surface at the bottom edge portion of the moldboard46 is a flat, hard steel plow point 55, which is bolted by a pluralityof bolts 56 to the bottom edge portion of the moldboard plate 45. Thisplow point 55 is a flat generally rectangular member which has a forwardedge 55a for engaging the ground. The ends 55b of the front edge taperoutwardly and rearwardly while the trailing edge 55c tapers inwardly tothe upper back edge 55d. The back edge 55d is straight and is adapted tobe closely adjacent to the lower edge 60d of an arcuate replaceable faceor wing 60. This wing 60 is formed of steel and is curved to beconcentric with and received on the front surface of the moldboard plate46. Appropriate bolts 61 secure the removable wing 60 in place.Alternatively, the wing 60 may be made of UHMW plastic, in which caseadditional bolts are required to support the wing 60 in place. Wing 60covers the remaining portion of the moldboard mounting plate 45, fiboveplow point 55.

At the rear of the moldboard mounting plates 46 are a pair of laterallyopposed inwardly tapering slide mounting plates 62 which are bolted tobrackets 63, the brackets 63 being welded to the rear portion of themoldboard mounting plate 46. The slide mounting plate 62 is bolted tothis plate 63 by bolts 64. A rectangular slide 65 is bolted by bolts 66to the outer surface of each slide mounting plate 62. The slides 65protrude below the mounting plate 46 and act as deflectors to deflectthe dirt which has been turned by the moldboard assembly 45.

It will be understood ttlat when this moldboard assembly 45 strikes ahard object, it will shear the shear pin 51 and thereby cause themoldboard assembly 45 to pivot rearwardly and upwardly about the pivotpin 49.

The intermediate plow gangs, which are longitudinally spaced from eachother on the tool bar 30, rearwardly of the forwardmost gang, do notrequire the plates 36 nor do they require the plates 35b, 35c, 36b or36c. Hence, the lower plate 135 seen in FIG. 5 and its C-shaped cradlemembers 135a require only U bolts, such as U bolt 139 for removablymounting the intermediate shank 140 on tool bar 30. When appropriatelybolted in place, the intermediate gangs have longitudinally spaced shankassemblies, each having a downwardly protruding shank 140 with theirpivot pin holes 143 and their shear pin holes 142 for receiving themoldboard assembly such as the moldboard assembly 145.

The rearmost intermediate plow gang along the tool bar 30 is shown inFIG. 6 and includes the conventional bottom plate 235 its downwardlyextending shank 240, corresponding to the plates 35 and 135 and shanks40 and 140. It receives a conventional moldboard assembly. What isdifferent about the rear intermediate gang is that it is provided with agauge wheel boom mounting member, d-anoted generally by the numeral 230.This gauge wheel mounting member 230 includes a top plate 236 and itsguide members 236a which are identical to the plate 36 and its guidemembers 36a. Bolts 239, similar to bolt 39, mount the plates 235 and 236straddling the tow bar 30 in a manner similar to the mounting of plates35 and 36 by bolt 39.

For pivotally receiving the front end portion of the boom 500 of a reargauge wheel, the plate 236 is provided with the upstanding inverted Ushaped mounting member 230 having a pair of upstanding, opposed brackets241. The upper ends of these opposed brackets are joined by a top plate242. Vertically spaced pairs of aligned holes 243 are adaptedselectively to receive a pivot pin 250 at varying height along thebrackets 241.

The rearmost gang which is rearwardly of the rearmost intermediate gangincludes the usual lower plate and shank, such as used in the precedinggangs; however, the top plate 336, seen in FIG. 7, is attached in thesame manner as a plate 36, but includes a second inverted U shapedmember having a pair of upstanding brackets 341 and a top plate 342which extends between the brackets 341. The central portion of the topplate 342 is provided with. an internally threaded hole, through which avertically disposed externally threaded, adjustment bolt 344 protrudes,the bolt having a crank 343 for manually rotating the same. The bolt 344is a set nut 345 by which the position of the shaft 344 may be fixed.The inner end or lower end of the shaft 344 rides against the uppersurface of the forward portion of the doglegged boom 500. The forwardend portion 500a of ttie boom 500 is pivotally carried by the pivot bolt250 when the bolt 250 protrudes through appropriate holes in the forwardend portion of boom 500 and also through appropriate holes; in thebrackets 241.

The rear portion 500b of the boom 500 is secured to the forward portion500a of the boom 500 as illustrated in FIG. 8, the rearmost portion ofthe rear portion 500b being provided with a vertically disposed sleeveor journal 503 which journals the upstanding shaft 504 for connecting tothe crossbar of an inverted U shaped yoke 505. The yoke 505 has a pairof opposed, downwardly protruding arms 506, the lower ends of whichcarry the transverse shaft of a wheel 507. Because of the casterarrangements provided by the rearwardly and downwardly arms 506 of theyoke 1505, wheel 507 will track the path of travel of the plow, when thewheel 507 is riding on the ground.

Boom 500 is mounted by manipulation of the crank 343 (FIG. 7) andthrough raising or lowering the bolt 250 (FIG. 6) the wheel 507 isincrementally raised or lowered with respect to the plow frame.

Equally spaced on opposite sides of shaft 504 are a pair of stop plates510 (FIG. 8) which limit the swing of the yoke 505 to the left or to theright, the stop plates 510 being mounted on the upper surface of thecrossbar of yoke 505 so as to engage sides of the boom portion 500b whenthe yoke 505 has pivoted sufficiently to align the wheel 507 with thepath of travel of the plow.

Removably mounted on the boom portion 500b, as shown in FIG. 1,forwardly of the yoke 505, there is provided a row marker 600 to mark aline so as to assist the tractor operator in maintaining a uniformdistance from the previously plowed furrow. This row marker 600 is shownin detail in FIG. 9 and includes a clamp assembly which has a top plate601 and a bottom plate 602 which are clamped to the upper surface andthe lower surface at the end of the boom section 500b by means of bolts603 which pass between the corner portions of the two plates 601 and602. The upper plate 601 is provided with an upstanding and outwardlyprotruding bracket 612 which pivotally supports by pivot pin 613, oneend of a piston 605, the piston being actuated by a cylinder 606, thelower end of which is connected to arm 607 on a pivot plate 608.

Overlapping pairs of brackets 614 and 615 extending from plate 602 and608, respectively, pivotally suspend pivot plate 608 for pivoting abouta longitudinal axis. Diverging from the pivot plate 608 are a pair ofoutwardly and rearwardly extending marker carrying arms 610. Theproximal ends of the marker arms 610 are welded to the plate 608 forpivoting therewith. The distal ends of these marker arms receive,clamped thereon, S shaped spring members 611, the spring member eachcurving first upwardly and then forwardly and then downwardly having acentral portion which passes beneath the arm 610 and thence rearwardlyand downwardly, eventually curving forwardly so as to terminate againbeneath the arm 610. These lower end portions are each provided with apointed plow-like marker 260 which includes forwardly and and downwardlyfor producing a mark along the ground, when the marker supporting arm610 is tilted downwardly. Of course when one carrying arm 610 is tilteddown, the other marker carrying arm 610 is tilted up so that the marker610 on one side is always up and out of the ground when the marker 610on the other side is engaging the ground and vice-versa.

The hydraulic cylinder 605 is a double-acting cylinder and has twohydraulic lines 621 in FIG. 1 which pass through the forward boomsection and thence to the hydraulic line supports on the main frame.From there the hydraulic lines 621 are arranged in parallel with thehydraulic lines 129 which feed to the tool bar 30 pivoting cylinder 32.

Therefore, each time the tool bar 30 is moved to the left by piston 32for causing the plow gangs to pitch the soil to the right, the left handmarker 620 will be pivoted down so that it marks a line along theunplowed ground inwardly of wheel 507. This line may be followed whenthe tractor reaches the end of the row and reverses its direction oftravel, thereby requiring that the tool bar 30 be shifted to the rightby the cylinder 32 and the right hand marker 620 is shifted down bycylinder 605.

The main frame 10 and 100 of the plows are each provided, at its forwardcorner portions with longitudinally outer ribs 700 which arerespectively provided with vertically spaced holes 702 as shown in FIG.10. Downwardly extending struts 701 connected to the ribs 700 carryopposed front wheels 704. The upper portion of these struts 701 areprovided with vertically spaced holes 705 through substantial parts oftheir lengths, so that the effective length of their strut 701 may beadjusted, as desired. The wheels 704 are forwardly of the center ofgravity of the plow and thus they cooperate with the rear gang wheel 507to act as depth gauges to prescribe the depth to which the moldboardswill plow with the in furrow plow, the wheels 704 and the struts 701 areusually removed before the plow is utilized for in furrow plowing.

It will be understood that the plow gangs which are mounted along thetool bar 30 are incrementally adjustable along the length of the toolbar 30 and can be changed for the width of cutting. Since there areusually three plow gangs on the forward portion of the tool bar 30 andonly two plow gangs on the rear portion of the tool bar 30, once thetool bar 30 has been pivoted to the left, or the right, as the case maybe, it will remain in its pivoted position because the pressure on theforward plow gangs is greater than the pressure on the rear plow gangs.

The cooperation of the three wheels, namely the two front wheels 704 andthe rear wheel 507, act as depth gauges to prescribe the depth ofplowing which will be accomplished by the plow gangs. The hydrauliccylinder 32 provides for both the movement of the tool bar 30 and theholding of it in its prescribed angular working position, about to 40°to the left or to the right, depending on the direction of travel and/orthe desired direction of the roll of the dirt. Since a common problemwith farm equipment is a leaking hydraulic system in farm tractors, itis desirable to employ a lock valve (not shown) with the hydraulicsystem so as to lock out any bypass fluid through the tractor hydraulicsystem.

By adjusting the positions of the plow gangs along the length of thetool bar 30, the cutting widths of the plow gangs may be varied fromabout 16 inches to about 20 inches, as desired. The face of themoldboard is covered by a wear surface 60 in the form of the wings whichare steel or plastic for easy shedding of the dirt.

On the rear of the tool bar the butt plate 31 which is disposedperpendicularly to the axis of the tool bar 30, provides for the easyattachment of an extension, such as seen in FIG. 11. This extension 730carries one or more additional plow gangs which can readily be installedand removed therefrom. When such an extension is used, the markerassembly of FIG. 9 must be connected to the end portion of the extension730, rather than to the end portion of the tool bar 30.

When an extension 730 is used, this will mean that there are more plowgangs arranged rearwardly of the pivot pin 22 and, therefore, it isnecessary to provide, in the hydraulic system, the check valve (notshown) discussed above which prevents the leakage of fluid, once thetool bar 30 has been positioned for plowing. This is because the greaternumber of plow gangs will tend to pivot the tool bar 30 to its centeredposition, rather than to tend to hold it to one side or the other.

The plastic moldboard wing 60 is made of a high density polypropyleneknown as UHMW. The moldboard assembly has a curved moldboard 46 whichextends along a 131/2 inch to 141/2 inch center line vertical radiusdistance of approximately 24 inches and extends approximately 24 incheshorizontally. The leading or cutting edge of the moldboard point orshare 55, is provided with a point that extends horizontally along thelower edge and has two cutting edges 55a and 55b, one at each end, sothat the ground may be engaged equally when the plow is rotated eitherto the right or to the left. The back of the moldboard 46 is fitted withtwo vertically disposed opposed, parallel brackets or backbones 47 whichprovide for the mounting of the moldboard assembly to the shank 40, or340, as the case may be, solely by the pivot pin or bolt 49 and theshear pin or shear bolt 51 which is disposed thereabove. Thus, themounting bolt or pivot pin 51 provides an axis for the moldboardassembly to pivot when the shear bolt is sheared. The face of themoldboard is fitted with the wing 60 that provides a wear surface as theplow engages the ground. The wing 60 has been so designed that it may berotated 180° so as to provide maximum life. The brackets 47 on themoldboard assembly are designed with a series of three holes 50 thatprovide for tilting of the moldboard vertically about the main mountingbolt or pivot pin 49, and so that the angle of mounting of the moldboardcan be ready to allow for maximum penetration and rolling of the earthor a covering effect of the earth as it is rolled for varying types ofsoil conditions.

The symmetrical or geometric design of each plow gang and its ability tobe moved forwardly and rearwardly along the tool bar 30 allows for thechanges in width of the cut and the movement of the tool barhorizontally along with the tilting ability of the moldboard assemblyprovide a very unique plow system which has the ability to engage theground under various soil conditions and to cover excessive litter whichhas accumulated on the ground while maintaining a level plowingcondition.

The single rear wheel 507 and the opposed front wheels 704 are desirablebecause of the weight of the plow and these wheels 507 and 704 enablethe plow to remain level as it is plowing through various soilconditions. The rear wheel 507 is mounted so that it provides for bothvertical and horizontal movement so that the rear wheel 507 ispositioned to run about an axis which is perpendicular to the path oftravel of the plow, regardless of whether tool bar 30 is rotated to theleft or to the right.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the present plow shouldbe apparent. The plow is attached by its three hitches to the threehitches of a conventional tractor. By manipulating the top hitch of thetractor, the plow can be tilted so as to lift the wheels 704 and 507 offof the ground and also lift all of the moldboards off of the ground. Thetractor can then be driven to any designated location to begin plowing.It is preferable to operate the hydraulic system so as to move the boomor tool bar 30 to the left or the right, prior to the time that the plowis lowered onto the ground. When the boom has been positioned, asdesired, the plow is lowered so that the wheels rest upon the ground andso that the inner point 620 also rests upon the ground. Then the tractoris operated so as to begin plowing. Each time the plow reaches the endof a furrow, the plow should be lifted off of the ground as the tractoris turned to being a subsequent operation. Furthermore, the tool bar 30should also be shifted from one angular position to the other. Thisshifting, of course, is accomplished by the control on the tractor (notshown) which manipulates the hydraulic system. When the tool bar 30 isshifted, the marker assembly is also shifted so that at all times, theinner marker 620 is the one to be engaging the ground.

After making a 180° turn at the end of the furrow, the operator of thetractor simply follows the line on the ground which has been previouslymarked by the marker 620. As the plow is moved along its path of travel,and the moldboards have one end or the other facing the direction oftravel so that the ground is turned by each of the moldboards as theymove along the path of travel of the tractor.

As pointed out previously, the plow gangs can be readily removed fromthe boom or tool bar 30 and an extension such as shown in FIG. 11 can beadded to the tool bar 30, if desired. The wheels 704 can be adjustedvertically and the position of the rear wheel 507 can be adjusted by thecrank 343 so as to regulate the depth to which the moldboards willpenetrate.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations maybe made in the embodiment here chosen for the purpose of illustratingthe present invention, without departing from the scope thereof asdefined by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A reversible plow comprising:(a) a frame having alongitudinal axis; (b) hitch means secured to the front portion of saidframe and by which said frame can be attached and detached to thehitches of a tractor so that when said frame is attached to saidtractor, said frame may be raised and lowered and towed in alongitudinal direction by said tractor; (c) pivot means carried by saidframe, said pivot means being disposed along an upright axis; (d) a toolbar connected at its intermediate portion to said pivot means, a frontportion of said tool bar protruding in a forwardly direction from saidpivot means, a rear portion of said tool bar extending rearwardly fromsaid pivot means, said tool bar being pivotable about said pivot means;(e) a plurality of moldboard supports removably secured at spacedintervals to said tool bar, said moldboard supports having downwardlyextending shanks; (f) moldboards removably secured to said shanks; (g) aguide bar fixed within said frame, said guide bar being concaved aboutsaid pivot means, the forward end portion of said tool bar terminatingadjacent to said guide bar; and (h) means protruding forwardly from theend portion of said tool bar for engaging the upper and lower surfacesof said guide bar, said means engaging said guide bar including a pairof wear plates protruding forwardly from said end portion of said toolbar for engaging upper and lower surfaces of said guide bar, said wearplates being flat plastic members which are removable from said means atthe end portion of said tool bar.
 2. A reversible plow of the typehaving an elongated frame, a tool bar pivotally secured to said framefor swinging about a vertical axes, support means for supporting abidirectional moldboard suspended from said tool bar wherein saidbidirectional moldboard is arcuate about a horizontal axis, and anarcuate moldboard wear plate conforming in shape and removably securedto a front earth engaging surface of said moldboard, said moldboardplate being reversible so that it is selectively received on saidmoldboard in either of two positions.
 3. The plow defined in claim 2including a straight generally rectangular blade secured to saidmoldboard for engaging the ground when said plow is in plowingrelationship to the ground.
 4. A plow of the type having a frame, a toolbar pivotally supported by its intermediate portion on said frame forswinging about a vertical axis, and a plurality of bidirectionalmoldboards supported by said tool bar in spaced relationship along saidtoolbar, the improvement comprising a pair of forward wheels protrudingfrom the forward corner portions of said frame for engaging the groundand for providing substantial support for the forward portion of saidframe, said forward wheels being adjustable with respect to said framefor varying the height of said frame to vary the depth of penetration ofsaid moldboards into the ground, a rear wheel protruding from the rearend portion of said tool bar for engaging the ground rearwardly of saidfront wheels and support means for said rear wheel, said support meansbeing pivotable for varying the height of said rear wheel with respectto said frame and means for disposing said rear wheel for travel alongthe ground in a path parallel to the path of said front wheels.
 5. Areversible plow of the type having a frame, a tool bar pivotally mountedto said frame for swinging from one position to another about a verticalaxis of said frame, said tool bar having a portion thereof protrudingrearwardly of said frame, a boom mounted on said rearwardly protrudingportion of said tool bar and protruding rearwardly therefrom, a wheelpivotally mounted on said boom, means for pivotally mounting said boomto said tool bar and means for incrementally adjusting the pivotalposition of said boom with respect to said tool bar.
 6. A reversibleplow of the type comprising:(a) a main frame for being moved in alongitudinal direction along a path of travel; (b) a tool bar pivotallycarried by said frame for being pivoted to a first angular position withrespect to said direction of travel so that the tool bar extendsforwardly and toward one side of said frame and pivoted to a secondangular position with respect to said direction of travel so that thetool bar extends forwardly and toward the other side of said frame; (c)a plurality of bidirectional unconnected moldboards disposed in spacedrelationship to each other along the length of said tool bar, so as tothrow dirt to one side of the direction of travel when the tool bar isin its first angular position and to thor dirt to the other side of thedirection of travel when the tool bar is in its second angular position;(d) an arcuate guide bar carried by said main frame, the forward end ofsaid tool bar passing adjacent to the rear surface of said guide bar inthe swing of said tool bar from one of its positions to the other; (e) aplurality of clamp means removeably clamped at spaced locations alongsaid tool bar for respectively supporting said moldboards in theirspaced relationship along said tool bar; and (f) wear plates carried byand protruding from the forward end of the forwardmost clamp mean forsandwiching said guide bar between said wear plates.
 7. The plow definedin claim 6 wherein said forwardmost clamp means surrounds the endportion of said tool bar, and including a front shank extendingdownwardly from said forwardmost clamp means and the forwardmostmoldboard of said moldboards being carried by said front shank.
 8. Areversible plow of the type having a frame, a tool bar pivotally mountedto said frame for swinging from one position to another about a verticalaxis of said frame, said tool bar having a portion thereof protrudingrearwardly of said frame, a boom pivotally mounted by its forward endportion to an intermediate portion of said rearwardly extending portionof said tool bar, said boom being pivotally carried on top of said toolbar for rotation by its forward portion about a horizontal axis, saidboom protruding rearwardly beyond the rear end of said tool bar, saidboom being moveable upwardly and downwardly, a wheel pivotally mountedon the rear portion of said boom, and stop means spaced sufficientlyabove said tool bar and adjustable toward and away from said tool barfor permitting limited upward and downward movement of said boom untilit is arrested by said stop means or by said tool bar, respectively. 9.A plow of the type having a frame, a tool bar pivotally supported by itsintermediate portion on said frame for swinging about a vertical axis,and a plurality of bidirectional moldboards supported by said tool barin spaced relationship along said toolbar, the improvement comprising apair of forward wheels disposed adjacent to the forward corner portionsof said frame for engaging the ground and traveling along parallel pathsof travel when the plow is towed, said wheels providing substantialsupport for the forward portion of said frame, the positions of saidforward wheels being adjustable with respect to said frame for varyingthe height of said frame to vary the depth of penetration of saidmoldboards into the ground, a rear wheel disposed adjacent to the rearend portion of said tool bar for engaging the ground rearwardly of saidfront wheels, support means on said rear portion of said tool bar forsupporting said rear wheel, said support means being pivotable forvarying the height of said rear wheel with respect to said frame andmeans for disposing said rear wheel for travel along the ground in apath parallel to the paths of travel of said front wheels.
 10. The plowdefined in claim 9 including struts rotatably carrying said forwardwheels; said struts being connected to said frame and securing means forremoveably securing said struts to said frame in a plurality of adjustedpositions.
 11. The plow defined in claim 10 wherein said securing meansare bolts and wherein said struts are each provided with spaced holesthrough which said bolts are selectively passed.
 12. The plow defined inclaim 10 including ribs within said frame, and struts extending fromsaid ribs for carrying said forward wheels.
 13. The plow defined inclaim 9 wherein said support means includes a boom secured by itsforward portion to said tool bar, said boom protruding beyond the rearportion of said tool bar and receiving said wheel rearwardly of saidtool bar.
 14. The plow defined in claim 13 wherein said boom ispivotally secured.
 15. The plow defined in claim 9 wherein said supportmeans includes a yoke for rotatably supporting said rear wheel forrotation about a transverse axis, said yoke being rotatable about anupright axis.
 16. The plow defined in claim 15 including stops for saidyoke for limiting the pivoting of said yoke about said upright axis. 17.The plow defined in claim 9 wherein said support means includes a boomon said tool bar, a pivot pin in the forward portion of said boom andconnected to said tool bar for permitting pivoting of said boom withrespect to said tool bar, the rear portion of said boom carrying saidrear wheel, and an adjustable stop between said boom and said tool barfor limiting the pivoting of said boom.
 18. The plow defined in claim 17wherein said adjustable stop includes a clamp assembly for removeablysecuring said adjustable stop to said tool bar, and said boom extendingthrough said adjustable stop, said adjustable stop being rearwardly ofsaid pivot pin.
 19. The plow defined in claim 9 including stop means forlimiting movement of said support means.
 20. The plow defined in claim 9wherein said support means includes a boom pivotally connected to therear portion of said tool bar for pivoting about a transverse axis withrespect to said tool bar and stop means for arresting pivotal movementof said boom with respect to said tool bar.
 21. The plow defined inclaim 20 wherein said stop means includes a clamp assembly mounted tothe tool bar, said clamp assembly supporting a threaded crank having anend portion for bearing on said boom to arrest movement in one directionof said boom.
 22. The plow defined in claim 21 including a rear shankextending downwardly from said clamp assembly, the rearmost moldboard ofsaid moldboards being carried by said rear shank.
 23. The plow definedin claim 9 wherein said support means includes a boom for carrying saidrear wheel, pivot means for pivoting said boom, and a clamp assembly forsecuring said pivot means to said tool bar.
 24. The plow defined inclaim 23 including a shank extending downwardly from said clamp assemblyfor supporting one of said mold boards.
 25. The plow defined in claim 23wherein said clamp assembly includes a pair of opposed plates onopposite sides of said tool bar and bolts joining said plates.
 26. Theplow defined in claim 9 in which the last mentioned means includes apivot pin for permitting pivoting of said rear wheel.
 27. The plowdefined in claim 9 including a pair of opposed side hitches on theforward portion of said frame and an upstanding central hitch betweenand above said side hitches.